Project: Socialize

What is something that you hate but are forced to do? The answer is everything. Life ain't about doing what you want to do, it's about what you don't want to do. That is why some people say life is basically just torture. I agree because just like every other person in this world, I am forced to do something that I think is extremely tedious. Even if I didn't want to do it, it would appear that I have no choice out of fear of a threat of severe punishment heading my way.

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Current Objective

Help Irina.

Time Limit: 4 Days

Reward: 5000 SP

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I have 9075 SP saved up already so I can totally just tank this mission. But, the scary part about all this is the punishment, which is the reason why I am forcing myself to pursue this mission. The last time I had endured a punishment, it was for a mission with like 100 SP or less, and that was bad enough. That is why I don't think I can endure skipping out on something that is worth so much.

The morning I had received that notification on my phone was the morning after the first meeting of our club. Therefore, I only have until Friday to complete the mission, and if I don't, I will be in a world of hurt.

I didn't prepare myself mentally for this the night before, which is the reason why I could sleep peacefully. However, once I saw the notification in the morning, well... I was quite surprised and afraid. Whenever I check my phone, there always seems to be an invisible timer that only I can see that is counting down each and every second that goes by and is wasted. Seeing this makes me suffer from quite a severe anxiety attack, like on a constant basis.

Even when I'm in the classroom, I can never seem to find an opening for me to interact with Irina. She always seems to be surrounded by people that she doesn't find enjoyable company in. That forced smile of hers told the whole story to me, but it didn't to those that crowded her and only made it worse. They seemed to have mistaken that forced smile for a genuine one, advancing even closer to her with more confidence in their approach.

Once class had began, my anxiety and my natural inclination to focus on Irina made it impossible for me to pay attention, resulting in Mura scolding me in front of the entire class during her lecture. However, a benefit that scolding brought with it was that Irina seemed to be paying some attention to me since she sat quite close to me as well. However, I'm not sure, but I fear the attention might be negative. She might have a negative impression of me, thinking that I'm a student that doesn't pay attention in class and take school seriously. I mean she is kinda right, but that's not what I need her to think of me.

"Hello Irina," he said. "My name is Loyd Aksel Genose. I've been a big fan of yours."

"Thank you," Irina responded.

She had that same forced smile on her face, but something was different when she was interacting with Loyd. Is it because he's charismatic and good-looking? So when she talked with me, she had that forced smile and even that tear in her eye, but when it's Loyd, it's a totally different attitude? That's why I f*cking hate this world.

"Irina," Loyd began speaking. "Since we're gonna be classmates, I think we should all get to know each other better. All that we know about you is from the media. I think, as classmates, you can be more casual with us. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?"

There it is: peer pressure. By establishing himself as one with the "class", Loyd had essentially pulled the other students to his side, leaving Irina alone in an awkward situation where she's basically forced to comply with Loyd's wishes and reveal information about herself. What a dirty move, but I gotta say, it is quite effective and is only something a charismatic person can pull off. Like someone like me can never pull off this move. People will just say "Who the hell is this kid?" and simply shrug it off.

"..." It would appear that Irina had also noticed this and was thinking about her response. "I think personal information like this should only be shared with close friends. What I had shared with the press is what I would share with new acquaintances."

"Is that so?" Loyd smiled and nodded. "Then I sure would like to become a friend of yours."

"I think we can," Irina smiled. From the conversation, she had earned my full respect. She is a pro after all on getting herself out of situations like that. That was a model answer.

"Excuse me," she said to the students that crowded around her and got up from her seat.

This action of hers led the crowd that encircled her to back off, giving her space to mobilize and break through the encirclement. She walked to the back exit of the classroom and left. The people that crowded her stayed put, probably because they didn't want to be labeled with the icon of a "stalker" and be disliked by Irina.

That is for those people though. Definitely not me. All that I am worried about is completing the mission so I didn't care at all if she thinks I'm a stalker.

I got up from my seat and walked out the back exit of the classroom as well. As I was doing so, I could feel Loyd's and Muria's gaze fixed on me, probably wondering if I was going to take the club objective seriously.

They didn't need to worry because even though I'm annoyed by the club activity, it now directly influences me. Therefore, I will complete the mission using any means necessary.

I followed after Irina, and I gotta say she's quite the head-turner. As she walked down the hallway, the students that were hanging out in the hallway paused their conversation, directed their attention towards her, and proceeded to change the topic of discussion to be on her. I'm impressed by her ability to remain calm and ignore all the judgmental conversations people were having about her. I'm sure she could hear those creepy students in the corner of the hall talking about what they would do if they ever had the chance to do whatever they wanted to her body.

It would appear that her destination was the girl's restroom so I waited outside the door. I leaned against the wall in a location where I can keep my eyes on the restroom entrance so that I could tell when she were to leave. I wasn't sure why she was in there, but I'm pretty sure, maybe a hundred percent, that she's in there for some privacy in order to vent her frustration about the situation. Her behavior, although she concealed it almost perfectly, was still unable to escape me.

She exited the restroom maybe five minutes later. She seemed to have taken great care in maintaining her appearance, making sure that people will be unable to tell if she had been crying or frustrated. However, like I've said, it can't escape me. I've always had a great talent in reading people.

"Is something the matter?" I whispered to her as she passed by. "It's bad to let it build up, you know. That's why you were crying yesterday, right?"

As she passed by me, her eyes shifted from looking forward to gazing into my seemingly cold and emotionless eyes. It was a frightened and shocked gaze that she displayed, almost as if she was a prey being surprised by the sudden appearance of a lone wolf at night. Her facial expression was tense and one of utmost fear, almost as if she couldn't believe what I had just whispered in her ear. By the looks of it, she was terrified. Even then, she didn't allow that countenance to linger on her face and quickly restored that cheerful smile back to its place.

She didn't respond to me and instead, continued walking down the hallway and back to the classroom. However, despite no further reactions from her end, I wasn't mad or anything. I concealed a grin since I had accomplished what I had set out to do.